Will the Buffalo Bills come out on top again in the AFC East? If you are a betting man, there’s a great chance with Josh Allen under center. But, while the reigning division champions are looking for advantages to finally get them to the Super Bowl, the rest of the division is looking to knock them off their throne.
With the New England Patriots and New York Jets turning to new head coaches and the Miami Dolphins relying on health to re-fuel their rivalry with the Bills, expect a more competitive division that may just come down to a rookie at a key position factoring in as a difference maker on their team.
Which rookies could be in position to be an X-factor on their squads? Based on roster needs entering the draft, let’s take a look at the list.
One rookie X-factor from each AFC East team:
Buffalo Bills – Landon Jackson, EDGE: The Bills top two picks, Maxwell Hairston and T.J. Sanders will make an impact Year 1, but the X-factor of the Bills’ 2025 NFL Draft class will be Landon Jackson. The Bills signed Joey Bosa for a one-year deal to help the pass rush, but with the veteran already rewinding injury concerns, Jackson may be pushed into the spotlight sooner than expected and he is the type of player to take advantage of his opportunity.
Described as a “high character” player by Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane, Jackson is long, athletic and has the natural instincts of a pass rusher. He won’t have too much pressure on him to right away, but if Bosa’s injury concerns linger into the regular season, he could step into an edge rush rotation of Greg Rousseau, AJ Espenesa and second-year edge Javon Solomon. If Jackson emerges, the Bills could suddenly have a young, impactful core of pass rushers.
Miami Dolphins – Jason Marshall Jr., cornerback: Dolphins top pick Kenneth Grant will be valuable in Year 1, but for the defense to really click in 2025, this AFC East squad is going to need a cornerback to step in the spotlight. Why not fifth-round pick Jason Marshall Jr.?
This is a stretch given that Marshall Jr. is considered more of a developmental type of pick, but with the Dolphins need at corner, the 6-foot, 195-pound corner could find himself on the field more than projected, especially if Jalen Ramsey takes his talents out of South Beach. As a big, boundary type corner, Marshall Jr is already impressed in OTAs and the Dolphins, who didn’t address corner needs at the type of the draft, could have themselves a diamond in the rough in the Florida product who has the talent to be better in the NFL.
New England Patriots – Will Campbell, left tackle: It’s easy to pick an offensive playmaker here, but it really starts with the offensive line. Selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Will Campbell was both a need and a want for a Patriots team desperate to solidify the line in front of Drake Maye.
With arm size length being the talk of concern leading up to the draft, there is no doubt Campbell is a football player who will be a force on the offensive line. Injecting him with the extra motivation in doubting his ability to be a great left tackle in the NFL, expect the Patriots rookie to at the very least hold it down at the position. The team will rely on the arm of Maye to get back to a contender in the AFC East, but it starts with the line and keeping him both on his feet and orchestrating his arm talent within the pocket with more time to throw.
New York Jets – Mason Taylor, tight end: The third tight end selected in the draft, LSU product Mason Taylor will give Justin Fields a big and reliable target to get the ball to. The Jets also like the fact that he is a complete tight end who could block as well. With the team leaning on the running game, a tight end like Taylor could flourish in his ability to open holes for the likes of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen while also giving the offense another target in the passing game to help take some of the pressure off Garrett Wilson.
In all, if Taylor can become that pass-catching tight end the Jets have been looking for, the offense won’t be as one-dimensional in their reliance on running the ball. With a short pass, ball control type offense, a playmaker like Taylor could be a huge factor.